The peak Spirit Movement aura of the ninth stage instantly flooded the entire arena. Beigong Han descended from the sky in a single step. Before the others could recover from the shock of this formidable pressure, Zhou Qing was sent staggering backward, coughing up blood. Yun Tian and Yun Jinghong were also forced back, though they remained uninjured—evidently a deliberate restraint on Beigong Han's part.
"Do you still hold me in any regard? The juniors are fighting their own battles—what business of yours is it to interfere?"
Gone was his lazy demeanor; Beigong Han cast a cold, detached gaze across the group.
"Please forgive us, Instructor Beigong, but Zhou Qing from the City Lord's Mansion went too far. Zhou Wenjing lost fair and square to my son Yun Yi, yet Zhou Qing brazenly violated the tournament rules and launched a direct sneak attack that severely injured my son. Naturally, we cannot stand for this." Yun Jinghong bowed to Beigong Han, his voice tinged with indignation.
By this point, Zhou Qing had recovered his footing. He turned to Beigong Han and gave a slight bow.
"Instructor Beigong, I had no intention of interfering with the match; the situation simply called for urgent action. I beg your forgiveness!"
"As for my son's rule-breaking, he must indeed be punished. Brother and sister have always shared a very close bond since childhood, and Qing'er acted on a moment of impulse. I will personally ensure that Zhou Qing faces the appropriate disciplinary measures according to the rules," Zhou Qing vowed earnestly.
"Hmph! Punishment? City Lord Zhou, pray tell, exactly how do you intend to punish him? This is your City Lord's Mansion, and your tournament. Your own son violated the rules—what right do you have to stand here and talk about administering punishment?" Su Qinghe's eyes were icy as he stared straight at Zhou Qing.
"Hmph! Su Qinghe, who do you think you are? When did it become your turn to speak? You're nothing more than a good-for-nothing who doesn't even qualify to enter the tournament!" Zhou Qing glared resentfully at Su Qinghe.
"Enough, City Lord Zhou. Since the rules were broken, simply disqualify him from the competition," Beigong Han said indifferently.
"Ah—well... please, Instructor Beigong, grant Zhou Qing another chance." Zhou Qing dropped his pride to the absolute lowest, leaving him with no other choice.
In Yangzhou City, he was the City Lord, but in the face of Bright Moon Academy, his weight didn't even match that of a single elite prodigy from the academy—let alone Beigong Han.
"The City Lord's Mansion has truly ruined its own reputation this time. By disqualifying Zhou Qing, it means both participants from the City Lord's Mansion have now lost their chance to secure spots in Bright Moon Academy."
"Indeed. Zhou Qing was kept hidden away by the City Lord's Mansion for so long. Who would have thought that the moment he finally stepped out, it would end like this?"
"... "
Amidst the crowd, the three great families each harbored their own agenda, murmuring among themselves.
"Instructor Beigong, City Lord Zhou, the Yun family is willing to overlook Zhou Qing's transgressions and allow him to continue participating in the match."
What?!
A single stone stirred a thousand ripples!
Every single gaze snapped toward the figure on the stage who had just spoken—none other than Su Qinghe of the Yun family.
Even Zhou Qing and Beigong Han were taken aback.
"Qinghe!" Yun Jinghong's expression darkened.
"Second Uncle, don't worry. I will secure justice for Xiao Yi," Su Qinghe replied, giving Yun Tian and Yun Jinghong a reassuring look.
"However, I have two conditions," Su Qinghe continued.
"Zhou Qing violated the tournament rules, but he also injured a member of the Yun family. According to regulations, he ought to face punishment from our family.
"However, the Yun family is magnanimous and can let that slide. But first, the City Lord's Mansion must compensate our family with fifty thousand low-grade spiritual stones as a token of condolence. City Lord Zhou, you have no problem with that, do you?" Su Qinghe flashed a wicked smile at Zhou Qing.
"I can agree to this condition," Zhou Qing forced the words through gritted teeth.
Fifty thousand spiritual stones was a substantial sum even for the City Lord's Mansion, but it was far preferable to handing Zhou Qing over to the Yun family for punishment.
"As for the second condition... since the rules have already been shattered, I shall shatter them completely. I hereby formally request the Yangzhou City Family Tournament—The Battle of Heaven-Seizure!"
As the final four words left Su Qinghe's lips, the entire viewing stands erupted into chaos.
"Hiss! The... the... the Battle of Heaven-Seizure!"
"Su Qinghe—he, he actually wants to trigger the Battle of Heaven-Seizure!"
"Qinghe! You cannot!"
"Brother Su...!"
Seeing the chaotic reaction of the crowd, Beigong Han and the four youths from Bright Moon Academy were completely baffled as to why everyone was so profoundly shaken.
Beigong Han looked toward Zhou Qing, a silent query in his eyes.
"The Battle of Heaven-Seizure dictates that if a single participant requests it during the tournament, no one else can refuse. Aside from those who are severely injured and truly unable to fight, every remaining participant must join forces and face that single challenger together."
"Once the Battle of Heaven-Seizure is initiated, it must continue until only one side remains standing, or until the challenged party is knocked off the stage. Voluntary surrender is strictly forbidden."
Zhou Qing's explanation finally made the significance of the Battle of Heaven-Seizure clear to Beigong Han and the others.
"Interesting. Su Qinghe, you truly do know how to keep me anticipating," Beigong Han murmured, a faint smile touching the corner of his lips as he looked at Su Qinghe.
Has he lost his mind? He's completely insane!
Su Qinghe is merely in the Pill Opening Realm, yet he dares to initiate the Battle of Heaven-Seizure. Is he trying to throw his life away?
The crowd remained in a state of violent shock, utterly incapable of comprehending Su Qinghe's move, which seemed no different from courting death.
"Su Qinghe, I can agree to this—but do you actually possess the strength to back it up?"
Zhou Qing stared at Su Qinghe. If anything, Su Qinghe's performance in this tournament was completely different from all the rumors of the past.
"City Lord Zhou, you only need to answer yes or no. The rest does not require your concern."
"Fine! I agree!" Zhou Qing narrowed his eyes, quickly calculating that Yun Yi was currently on the verge of death; even if he somehow recovered, his foundations would be ruined, making him entirely negligible.
Although Su Qinghe's cultivation had plummeted, the innate talent he had displayed moments ago was still present. If they could eliminate Su Qinghe as well, the younger generation of the Yun family would suffer a fatal generational gap, allowing the City Lord's Mansion to easily control and eventually swallow them whole.
Yet, as pleasant as those thoughts were, was Su Qinghe really as simple as he seemed?
"Very well, then the Battle of Heaven-Seizure shall commence tomorrow!" Beigong Han declared, turning to leave, but after taking two steps, he paused and glanced back at Su Qinghe.
"This is a Nine-Curved Spiritual Heart Pill. Have him swallow it, and his life will be out of danger." With a flick of his wrist, Beigong Han produced a crystalline, translucent pill and handed it to Su Qinghe.
Seeing this, Yun Jinghong stepped forward to offer his thanks. "Many thanks, Instructor Beigong."
None of them could have anticipated that this year's tournament would spiral into such a spectacle, even triggering a Battle of Heaven-Seizure that hadn't been seen in a century.
While everyone else conserved their energy in anticipation of tomorrow's monumental clash, a starkly different scene played out within the Yun family estate.
Inside a quiet room, a pale-faced youth sat with his eyes tightly shut, his breathing perilously faint. It was Yun Yi, who had suffered grievous injuries earlier that day.
Upon returning, Su Qinghe had immediately administered the Nine-Curved Spiritual Heart Pill to Yun Yi. While his life had been successfully stabilized, whether his cultivation could be salvaged remained entirely uncertain.
"Xiao Yi, just hold on. Tomorrow, your older brother will reclaim every bit of justice owed to you." Su Qinghe's gaze was cold and detached, his thoughts unreadable.
"Father, Second Uncle, rest assured. Once Xiao Yi wakes up, I have my own methods to restore him to his former glory—and perhaps make him even stronger than before."
"Qinghe, we trust you. Go get some rest now. Be extremely careful in tomorrow's battle!" Yun Tian looked at Su Qinghe with deep concern.
The reason no one in the Yun family had attempted to dissuade Su Qinghe from initiating the Battle of Heaven-Seizure was twofold: first, once Su Qinghe made up his mind, nothing could easily change it.
Second, they had long since witnessed Su Qinghe's monstrous capabilities—his actual combat prowess bore no relation to his nominal cultivation realm.
Moreover, during Su Qinghe's frequent sparring sessions with Yun Nantian and the others, Yun Tian and the rest had often watched from the sidelines. They understood all too well just how terrifyingly abnormal his battle instincts truly were.
Above all else, the entire Yun family harbored a pent-up fury that could only be washed clean with blood.